The special election Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has called for
on Nov. 8 could have devastating consequences for public education
in California. University of California students concerned about
public schools and their own university education should be paying
close attention, as the governor’s so-called reform agenda
will lead to more cuts to education at all levels and will weaken
the ability of teachers and others to fight those cuts.
At the heart of the governor’s agenda are three measures
that directly attack teachers and schools. Proposition 74 seeks to
make scapegoats of the state’s 305,000 public school
teachers.
The governor wants to strip teachers of basic due-process
protections and extend the probationary period for them to five
years.
This comes on the heels of a broken promise to restore billions
in funding he borrowed from our schools last year.
When California needs to recruit 100,000 new teachers over the
next few years, the governor instead seems to be trying to drive
teachers away.
Proposition 74 will cost millions of dollars to implement and do
nothing to improve education. The governor should instead focus on
reforms that work, such as smaller class sizes, up-to-date
textbooks for every student, and quality teacher training.
Proposition 75 is an attempt to silence teachers, nurses,
firefighters and other public employees. Disguised as a measure
protecting workers, its hidden agenda is really to make it much
easier for the governor to cut education, health care and public
safety.
By requiring annual individual written consent for those groups
to use any portion of their members’ dues on political
issues, the governor and his allies hope to stop teachers and
others from getting our message out.
The measure unfairly targets only public unions, and lets the
governor’s corporate contributors continue to freely outspend
unions 24 to 1. If Proposition 75 passes, who will speak out
against cuts devastating to schools and other key programs? If the
governor has his way, no one will.
A third measure, Proposition 76, would grant the governor and
all future governors unprecedented state budget powers. It would
allow him to declare a fiscal emergency any time he wants, and then
make cuts across the board.
Those cuts would further decimate our schools and increase
already skyrocketing university fees. Proposition 76 would
eliminate the system of checks and balances that provides
Californian students with at least some level of protection. It
would cut $4 billion from K-12 schools every year, and the
universities won’t be far behind.
The governor has already shown he can’t be trusted on
school funding issues; there is no reason to grant him even more
power.
The upcoming election is wildly unpopular. And the danger of an
unpopular special election is low voter turnout ““ if people
don’t like the election, they may be less likely to show up
to vote.
For teachers and concerned UC students, sitting this one out is
not an option. For many of you this will be the first election in
which you have the opportunity to participate. Those of you living
away from home should register now to vote at your new address or
apply for a vote-by-mail ballot from the address where you are
already registered.
If every eligible UC student casts a ballot to protect education
on Nov. 8 by opposing Propositions 74, 75 and 76, it will send a
clear message to the governor that it’s time to stop
attacking teachers and schools, and time to begin working with the
Legislature on reforms that actually work.
Keiley is the president of the Santa Monica-Malibu Classroom
Teachers Association.